US looking to charge $10 entry fee for tourists

Might interest people here.

It may lead to retaliatory action from the EU in that they reintroduce a visa requirement for US citizens. Those of us from countries in the "Visa waiver programme" already have to register online 72 hours before departure and a $10 fee means that we're essentially getting visas to travel to the US in all but name.

Whoa when did this happen? I didnt see this when I was back home. I know a few peeps as well as cities that would fight this if enacted. Was this on the US embassy web site?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/barcelona/737541/United-States-may-introduce-10-entry-fee.html

2007 called, it want's its news back..

Sorry forgot to add the link.

It first reared it's head in 2007, but is back on the agenda again.

Here's the link

Yup.. Article is 2yrs old.. Isn't "The Telegraph", a rumor/FUD spreading Paper anyways, or am I thinking of another UK paper.
Anywho, its not law yet, and i doubt it will pass.. Nothing to worry about until something actually happens. And there has been
a Customs Inspection fee on all tickets into of the US for ages.. So in a sense you've been paying an entry fee
for many years now.

OK...it's 2 days old. But I think it still qualifies as up-to-date

Given the current budgetary outlook in the US, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it were implemented, but it is an incredibly foolish proposal. Requiring US citizens to get visas to visit EU countries would be even more foolish. Tourists and business visitors should be encouraged, not discouraged, plus the Eurpean emabassies and consulates in the US don't need the extra work of processing tons more visa requests.

From Monday's Süddeutsche Zeitung:

The old plan has been warmed over and the fee may even be doubled. The law is expected to be passed this week or next, ergo current news, just the wrong link, Darkkight.

I think most mayors on the west coast would contest this. The city of Portland has made great strides to appease travelers especially those coming from Pacific Realm countries to promote tourism. Now that Lufthansa has now made a direckt route from PDX to Frankfurt A.M. as of two years ago I hope it will fight this . With the amount of promotion the city has used to promote itself as an internation city I find it hard to believe that this plan will be implemented. I may be wrong and if so...then I am but I hope not.

Edit:

Seeing Haza and Sarbyrd link. Absolute stupidity on the U.S.

It wasn't passed in 2007 when it was proposed, I would be curious about how well it is 'expected' to do this time. Dumb idea, though.

I think we need to raise the money to get Hazza over there to speak for international travelers. We are going to need ten dollars at least it seems...

I agree with you on that.

However, the US keep implementing more and more measures and requirements for visitors. The Visa Waiver Programme is a reciprical agreement designed to ease travel between countries. If one country starts implementing more and more restrictions and then also costs, then it is only natural that the other country will react in kind.

Reintroducing a visa requirement for US citizens is also the most effective way that the EU can put pressure on the US to rescind this - because the pressure will come from US citizens (their own voters) who then have to go through their own inconvenient and time-consuming process to travel as a direct consequence of this policy.

Perhaps, but not directly and in a timely fashion. The people can vote the Congress critters out of office, but they can't do dick for House/Senate Bills.
The only people that have that power are the lobbyist. Which the Airlines have many of..

Don't some states have some sort of tourist tax already?

Well they will have a hotel tax or something like that. Most cities do. When I left Hawaii it was thinking of implementing I want to say a 10% tourist tax . I could be incorrect on the rate though.